Sharon, Just got in from out of town, hence my tardy response to your question.
Having done Intro to OS workshops, I, too have struggled with a theme that doesn't sound artificial. Here's something that seemed to help. We invited people who had never been to an OS to the OS in the workshop. They were coming to a one-day session on the theme. I don't remember exactly what it was, something like "creating great organizations". Anyway, the people coming to the one-day session weren't coming for OS, they were coming to talk about the subject. They brought passion for the topic with them. It also enlarged the group such that those there for the training got the experience of a larger OS. And we all learned something about welcoming new folks into our midst. all in all, it was a great improvement. Peggy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon Quarrington" <shar...@pdesigns.com> To: <osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2001 12:25 PM Subject: Re: Theme brainstorm > Charles 'Buzz\" Blick wrote: > > > I have had VERY bad results in doing training about Open Space using either > > a made-up theme or a "stock" theme - like "what is the desirable future of > > such-and-such?" The sessions turned out to be boring and artificial - > > because they had no real relevance, passion or commitment for the > > participants, (or me). > > Hi Buzz. Thanks for your reply. I too have participated in OS's where there > was little passion from the group and have found them to be so much less > satisfying that those where a group is working on a theme where they have > passion and urgency. Unfortunately in most trainings the group is being brought > together under rather artificial circumstances. Even in the multiday OS > trainings I have participated in the OS theme was set by the facilitator > initially. > > I have been trying to be a design team of one :) and working on what would the > common interest of a group of people who are only vaguely familiar with OST but > who are interested in learning more about it. The people coming to the may be > interested in genuinely engaging their organizations at a deeper level, or > perhaps they just want more effecient meetings, or maybe they just wanting to > try something different since what they are doing now isn't working. These are > the ideas that I am trying to work into a theme - as well as trying to focus on > the essence of OST, passion, commitment, responsibility, and letting go of > control. > > Last night I was just really struggling with this and thought it might help to > reach out to the list for ideas, in case anyone else had already struggled with > a similar issue when they were putting a training together. > > I also worry about the OS seeming boring and artificial and yet I couldn't do an > OS training without an OS as a majoy key component. I don't think I really > "got" OS until I had facilitated a real one and yet I am trying to help others > "get" OS in an artificial OS. It just seems like such a bind - kind of like > explaining colour to a blind man. If our OS training is sufficient to interest > the participants in trying an OS and we give them some quidance to help make > their OS's successful I will be happy. The real learning will only occur > when/if these people try out OS for themselves. We are hoping that our one day > training is just the start of the learning journey in OS. > > Sharon > > * > * > ========================================================== > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > ------------------------------ > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, > view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, > Visit: > > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
